May 2, 2006 - Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam
and Police Chief Sterling Owen named Officer Robert Taylor the March
Officer of the Month. Officer Taylor has been with the department
since May 1994.

Chief Owen said in December 2005, Officer Taylor responded to 5115
Sunset Road to investigate a residential burglary. Over the next three
months this same residence would be burglarized two additional times.
During the last incident, the victim saw the suspect as he fled the
residence and was able to provide a description of the suspect's vehicle
to Officer Taylor. Officer Taylor kept in constant contact with the
victim as the investigation continued.

After
obtaining the vehicle information, Officer Taylor was able to track
down the owner of the vehicle. The owner was being held in the Sevier
County Jail. Officer Taylor conducted an interview with the vehicle's
owner and determined the vehicle had been stolen. Officer Taylor had
suspect information and a description of the vehicle dispatched to
all patrol officers.

During the next several days Officer Taylor kept searching for the
vehicle and the suspect. On March 28, Officer Taylor observed the
suspect's vehicle on Oakland Street. The suspect fled the area before
Officer Taylor could conduct a traffic stop. A canvass of the area
where the suspect was spotted uncovered an abandoned house on Ashland
Avenue that was being used by the suspect. Property belonging to the
victim on Sunset Road along with other stolen property was recovered
from the house.

On March 29, officers patrolling the area in an unmarked vehicle encountered
the suspect and followed the vehicle until marked patrol units could
initiate a traffic stop on Sunset Road. The suspect, 41-year-old James
Robinson, was taken into custody and interviewed by officers. During
the interview, Robinson confessed to several home burglaries. Robinson
was charged with 3 counts of burglary, 2 counts of felony reckless
endangerment, 2 counts of felony flight by motor vehicle and 8 misdemeanor
driving related charges.

Chief Owen said, "Officer Taylor knew a young woman was being
terrorized by this suspect who burglarized her residence more than
once. His belief in the inherent right to feel safe and secure in
one's home was the driving force for the capture of this suspect."

Mayor Haslam said, "Officer Taylor has set an example for all
others to follow. We commend him on his dedication to his job and
to the community."

Officer Taylor will receive a signed certificate from the Mayor and
Chief along with a free dinner from Bayou Bay Seafood House.